About Enoch

“Chaps. 72-82 The Astronomical Book, like the Book of Watchers, may date from the third century BCE; the oldest copy of it seems to have been made not long after 200 BCE. Sizable portions of the text are preserved on four copies, written in Aramaic, from Qumran cave 4. The Aramaic original appears to have been much different and much longer than the Ethiopic text, adding far more astronomical details.” – James C. Vanderkam

Enoch is an enigmatic figure in the Bible, mentioned only a couple of times. Very little is said about him, and yet he strangely appears in the “hall of faith” of Hebrews 11. Though little is said about him, the portrait that is drawn of him is actually a beautiful and inspiring one. The author of Hebrews clearly has Genesis 5 in mind when he speaks of Enoch. It is there that we learn how it is that Enoch earned a place among the heroes of the faith. Enoch was not simply a man who walked by faith; he was, in particular, a man who “walked with God” (Gen. 5:24). Enoch was pleasing to God because he not only lived his life by faith in the God of heaven and earth, but he also lived his life in intimate communion with God. To understand Enoch’s life of faith and communion with God more clearly, it is helpful to look at the backdrop against which the portrait of Enoch’s life is drawn.

Enoch Lincoln – Wikipedia

18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. 19 After he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Altogether, Jared lived a total of 962 years, and then he died. 21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

The first English translation of the Bodleian/Ethiopic manuscript was published in 1821 by Richard Laurence, titled The Book of Enoch, the prophet: an apocryphal production, supposed to have been lost for ages; but discovered at the close of the last century in Abyssinia; now first translated from an Ethiopic manuscript in the Bodleian Library. Oxford, 1821. Revised editions appeared in 1833, 1838, and 1842.

When the Book of Enoch was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, it became clear that it was a piece of literature that influenced biblical writers of the time including those who wrote the New Testament. So why is the Book of Enoch not in the Bible? Today it is only included in the main canons of Ethiopian Orthodox sects, but was popular for hundreds of years in ancient Jewish perspectives. In fact, in understanding the Book of Enoch, some have pointed out that it was likely the inspiration for the Book of Genesis, due to a number of parallels between the two.

(Zion is defined as “the pure in heart” and this city of Zion will return to the earth at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.) The Doctrine and Covenants further states that Enoch prophesied that one of his descendants, Noah, and his family, would survive a Great Flood and thus carry on the human race and preserve the Gospel.

In classical Rabbinical literature, there are various views of Enoch. One view regarding Enoch that was found in the Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, which thought of Enoch as a pious man, taken to Heaven, and receiving the title of Safra rabba (Great scribe). After Christendom was completely separated from Judaism, this view became the prevailing rabbinical idea of Enoch’s character and exaltation.[11]

Reference
Book of Enoch . (1970). Retrieved on October 19, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Enoch.

Enoch (ancestor of Noah) . (1970). Retrieved on October 19, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enoch_(ancestor_of_Noah).

Enoch . (1970). Retrieved on October 19, 2018, from http://www.crystalinks.com/enoch.html.

Pleasing God: Who Was Enoch?. (1970). Retrieved on October 19, 2018, from https://tabletalkmagazine.com/posts/2018/02/pleasing-god-who-was-enoch/.

The Book of Enoch Might Tell a Different Story of the Pyramids | Gaia. (1970). Retrieved on October 19, 2018, from https://www.gaia.com/article/book-of-enoch.

Who was Enoch in the Bible? Scripture Verses about His Life. (1970). Retrieved on October 19, 2018, from https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/enoch-in-the-bible/.

Internet Innovations, Inc.. (1970). The Book of Enoch and The Secrets of Enoch. Retrieved on October 19, 2018, from https://reluctant-messenger.com/enoch.htm.